Sassafrass!

Last updated

Sassafrass!
Tami Neilson - Sassafrass!.jpg
Studio album by
Released1 June 2018 (2018-06-01)
Genre
Label
  • Neilson Records
  • Outside Music
Producer Ben Edwards, Tami Neilson
Tami Neilson chronology
Songs of Sinners Live
(2017)
Sassafrass!
(2018)
Chickaboom!
(2020)
Singles from Sassafrass!
  1. "Stay Outta My Business"
    Released: 23 March 2018
  2. "Manitoba Sunrise at Motel 6"
    Released: 18 May 2018
  3. "Devil in a Dress"
    Released: 4 July 2018

Sassafrass! is the sixth studio album by Canadian-New Zealand country singer Tami Neilson, released in June 2018.

Contents

Production

The album was inspired by Neilson's experiences of becoming a mother, losing her father and turning 40. She felt that the album expressed her "coming into confidence as a woman" and is a celebration of her newly-found freedom. [2] Because of this, many of the songs on the album focused on gender equality. [3] Sonically, Neilson was inspired by musicians including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Mama Thornton and Mavis Staples. [3] The song "Miss Jones" was written as a tribute to Sharon Jones. [4]

The album's title, Sassafrass!, is a slang term referring to a self-assured person. [1]

Release and promotion

Three singles were released from the album: "Stay Outta My Business" in March 2018, [5] "Manitoba Sunrise at Motel 6" in May [6] and "Devil in a Dress" in July, a month after the album's release. [7]

Reception

At the 2018 New Zealand Music Awards, Sassafrass! was nominated for the Album of the Year award, and led to Neilson being nominated for the Best Solo Artist award. [8]

Track listing

Sassafrass! track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stay Outta My Business"
  • J. Neilson
  • T. Neilson
2:56
2."Bananas"
  • J. Neilson
  • T. Neilson
2:32
3."Diamond Ring"T. Neilson3:12
4."A Woman's Pain"T. Neilson2:57
5."Devil in a Dress"
  • J. Neilson
  • T. Neilson
3:07
6."One Thought of You"
  • R. Neilson
  • T. Neilson
2:16
7."Miss Jones"T. Neilson2:30
8."Smoking Gun"
  • J. Neilson
  • T. Neilson
3:42
9."Kitty Cat"T. Neilson2:03
10."Manitoba Sunrise at Motel"T. Neilson4:21
11."Good Man"T. Neilson5:23
Total length:24:59

Credits and personnel

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for Sassafrass!
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
New Zealand1 June 2018Neilson Records, Southbound [2]

References

  1. 1 2 Woronzoff, Elisabeth (31 May 2018). "Tami Neilson Is Woke on 'Sassafrass!'". Pop Matters. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "HOW TAMI NEILSON LEFT CANADA FOR LOVE AND BECAME A SINGING SENSATION IN NEW ZEALAND, THEN THE WORLD". Pop Matters. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 Jenkin, Lydia (13 June 2018). "Tami Neilson on Learning From Kitty Wells, Empowering Women and New Album 'Chickaboom!'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  4. Sawyer, Bobbie Jean (13 February 2020). "Tami Neilson on Learning From Kitty Wells, Empowering Women and New Album 'Chickaboom!'". Wide Open Country. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  5. Chetwin-Kelly, Bridie (23 March 2018). "Tami Neilson on her new album and being a mother on the road". The Spinoff . Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. "Tami Neilson Shares Dreamy Single 'Manitoba Sunrise At Motel 6' + Video". Under the Radar. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  7. "Tami Neilson Releases Video for 'Devil in a Dress'". New Zealand Music Commission. 4 July 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  8. Louw, Charl (16 November 2018). "Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2018 Winners Announced". Under the Radar . Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  9. "Charts.nz – Tami Neilson – Sassafrass!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  10. "Official Top 20 NZ Albums: End of Year Charts 2018". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 16 April 2022.